Articles By: John Schlageck

Nobody likes us. Every­one’s out to get us. We can’t buy a break. Don’t believe it. It isn’t so. Never has been and hopefully never will be. Farmers and ranchers still rank at the top of America’s most admired professions. This A-list is comprised of those who serve others, including firefighters, doctors, nurses, farmers and ranchers (who feed the world), […]

High yields and low prices characterize Kansas commodities. Discouraged, pure and simple. The family farm: Withering on the vine. There will be a moment of truth. * * * The current economic headlines proclaiming our farmer’s plight are as numerous as the extra bushels of corn, beans, wheat and other crops that have helped depress prices. Today’s farmer is faced with major […]

Record crops, low commodity prices and stalled trade negotiations spell troubled times for Kansas farmers and ranchers heading into 2017. Like many other small businesses, inputs to produce a bumper crop generally entail an abundance of costs as well. Except for lower fuel prices, most agricultural inputs remain high and continue to rise. Drive through rural Kan­sas and you’ll see […]

Reflection is a good thing. It allows you to see where you’ve been and hopefully chart a better course on where you’re going. While on vacation recently, I had a chance to think about the small community where I grew up. Located in northwestern Kansas, Seguin was a small farm/ranch community of about 50 hearty souls. It was located in […]

When the temperatures in Kansas dip below freezing, two types of people usually surface: those who enjoy invigorating weather and those who tolerate the cold from inside. How an individual feels about the cold weather usually depends on where he or she grew up, age and, more importantly, attitude. Another factor comes into play: wind-chill factor. Wind-chill factor is usually […]

I love to eat. And like millions of fellow Americans there’s nothing better than the food grown and produced on this nation’s farms and ranches. I’ll eat a thick, choice rib-eye steak hot off the grill any time. And make sure it has all the fixings—baked potatoes, steamed green beans, salad, fresh bread and a glass of red wine. I […]

The conversations are endless. Consumers want, and some demand, to know the origin, safety and nutrition contained in the food they eat or feed to their families. Little more than a couple decades ago, it seemed like most people could give a hoot about their food. Heck, 20 years ago the only time the media paid any attention to food […]

Record crops, low commodity prices and stalled trade negotiations spell difficult times for Kansas farmers and ranchers in 2016. That’s the consensus of many ag producers throughout the Sunflower State. After many producers harvested one of the best wheat crop in years, farmers felt good. That’s when the reality of low sale prices for this commodity set in. Like many […]

Self-absorbed. It’s all about me. I am the center of the universe. All of these words come to mind when today’s endless stream of motorists talk, tweet and Facebook while speeding down the boulevard. This recent phenomenon has become epidemic and it’s spreading. Harsh words? Certainly, but there are also harsh consequences in lives lost, maimed and injured permanently in […]

Since I first bit into my first Buffalo wing in the early ’70s I’ve loved eating the spicy, tasty treat. I was back east visiting an old Army buddy, Steve Devaux, who lives in New York. He took me to a bar that served the wings up right. You know, like the originals first prepared at the Anchor Bar in […]